Friday, September 25, 2009

Now that's a serious audience for two teams who are coming off very disappointing losses. Dallas is already 0-1 in its new palace, and the Panthers are 0-2 and haven't won a game in calendar year 2009.

Carolina also has a history of losing to Dallas in the regular season, often under freaky circumstances, but beating the Cowboys in the playoffs.

I don't think history matters much in this one, though. I think Carolina is a slightly better team than Dallas. And, more importantly, as LB Jon Beason told me this week: "It's desperation time."

I think the Panthers will play with a bit more air of desperation than the Cowboys Monday night, although the Cowboys will be favored (and talked about a lot more on the MNF broadcast, be prepared for that, Panther fans).

But in a close, entertaining game, here's my prediction:

Carolina 30, Dallas 26.

The stats so far this season:

My record in picking Panther games: 2-0.My preseason pick for Panthers in 2009: 7-9.Number of NFL teams since 1990 that have qualified for the playoffs after starting 0-3: 3.

Follow Scott on Twitter.com/scott_fowler (he will be Twittering live during the Panthers-Cowboys game from the new stadium)

36 comments:

A gut prediction for Carolina based on nothing tnagible. Just that a gut feeling. At best the teams are even at RB (if Barber is out) and Carolina has an advantage with Coaching. I just don't see where where else the panthers are better thus far in the season. Not from what has been presented. We have steve smith and Mushin, they have three comparable to Mushin, one slightly better and two pro bowl TE's. More options advantage goes to Dallas..... They (Dallas) blew a game against the best team in the conference. 4 turnovers, scored 31 points and lost on a last second FG. Both teams have warts, but they expected to win and we were happy to be close ........... says alot about the pschology of the teams. With all the talent over there Dallas should be better and that is why we have a shot.... coaching.

Wait till you see the new stadium and you will see the 100,000. lol, even the ones outside have great views on big screen TV's. I hope they close the roof and the noise becomes a factor in yet another Carolina loss.

I think I know this guys supplier. That must be some really good stuff if he thinks the horrible panthers (w/Fake GoHome as the QB) will beat the powerful Cowboys. No way. The Boys had a game taken from them last week. Even as they had four turnovers against a pretty good NY team, it took a last second field goal for the Giants to win. As much as I hate to say or think it, the Panthers are going to getting a whoopin!

Panthers will lose again because Jake's arm is not good and the defense is bad and the special teams are terrible. Onl field goals will be scored by Panthers and once again Cat fans will hope for a functional QB.

Some1 said they hope the Panthers lose so Fox gets fired,,, how retarded is that, cutting off your nose to spite your face kind of logic. And whats with the clown predicting the redskins over the Panthers? Go take your meds.

The way some of you seem to know whats gonna happen every game, you must be filthy rich from betting all you have on every game and winning, so why dont you buy the Panthers & you can fire anyone you want.

I normally agree with you Scott, but not here. I don't think just trying harder is going to get the Panthers a win. I do think it will be close, but I have Dallas 27 Panthers 24. It will not be a pretty game, especially on defense for both teams, and the Panther special teams will again be highlighted for all the wrong reasons. I hope Hurney and Fox have updated their resumes...

Go ahead Scott, write your Tuesday morning story now and take the weekend off! So far I have seen nothing to indicate the Panthers have the Defense or the Desire to win ball games. Hope I'm wrong! And is there a more overpaid, overrated player in the NFL than Peppers??

Typically Observer homerism, what a joke. The Panthers will lose by double digits on Monday night. How long will Richardson continue to allow these idiots (Fox and Hurney) to ruin this organization. Who in their right mind would have given Delhomme an extension after last season???

The Panthers are a good football team, off to a slow start. Some folks get spoiled (12-4 last season and still many say Jake is a 2nd stringer and Fox is a dunce) but these critics all presumably have jobs outside of the NFL. I don't know who's going to win on MNF, but I'm rooting for the Panthers, and I think Scott's reasoning is solid. It ought to be a great game and give Carolina some good national exposure, even if you have to listen carefully to hear who the Cowboys are playing.

The "party passes" at the new stadium are a joke. I live here in Dallas and you should have heard the uproar this week. 30000+ party passes but only a handful of people could see the game on the field or on the screens.There are a lot of angry Cowboys fans down here right now.Go Panthers!

Delhomme will do his best against the Cowboys, which is just average. Jake won't be the deciding factor in this game. I believe the Cowboys are much stronger. (They would be my last pick for a team, ugh.)It is, what it is. I have developed the attitude "Don't expect much and you won't be disappointed". And please, because I have a realistic attitude does not make me a band wagon fan or unloyal to the Panthers. You cheerleader fans need to find a Topcat so you can all Rah-Rah! This is a discussion forum, we are making comments on an article.

Hope you're right, Scott... but even with an improved offensive performance last week, I just don't feel good about this game. Monday night, bright lights - seems like a recipe for disaster for Jake and company. I do think our defense will rise and shine in this one but it won't be enough. I'd take John Fox over Wade Phillips any day, but I think the Cowboys are just blessed with better personnel.

No way? There's no way the Panthers win this game? Listen, I'm not laying money down on it, but I'm rooting for the Cats. But to say "No Way" the Panthers beat the Cowboys is like saying there's no way the Bengals could beat the Steelers.

As a Diehard EAGLES fan, I do hope the Panther's pull out a win. I HATE the Cowboys and would love to see there season at 8 - 8 and miss the playoffs some more with their overhyped garbage quarterback...

Grew up in NC, live in TX. Romo is BAD, Wade is worse. Would take Jake and Fox in a heartbeat. Barber probably won't play. Dal WR are trash. Two good TE. D can't stop the run and CB are suspect. If Panthers run the ball and find Smith (short or long) they beat Dal.

To the last poster: You're right, Wade Phillips is a bad head coach and the Cowboys D has looked EXTREMELY shaky the past two games. But to say that Romo is bad and they have trash WR is just madness. I'd take Romo of Dellhome any day. Anyone who knows anything about football would.

And sure, there's a chance the Panthers win tonight. But it would be crazy to pick them or put money on it. Everything points to Dallas winning and the Panthers going 0-3. You just half to take off your turqoise colored glasses off to see it.